Growing up as a child in the 1960s we didn’t have a lot, but we also didn’t ask for much in return either. My early years were spent living with my grandparents, who were both extremely hard-working people and the highlight of the year was the family’s annual pilgrimage to Butlins at Clacton-on-Sea. We were a close-knit family, there were plenty of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins living close by and it was this extended family that all joined us on the family holiday. We had no cars back then, so what would be a short car journey today, was a whole day’s adventure on a coach packed with excited holidaymakers.

Our family were not the only holidaymakers enjoying the hospitality of what Billy Butlin had to offer. In its heyday, Butlins was welcoming over 1 million guests a year into their holiday camps around the country, all entertained and welcomed by the famous ‘Redcoats’. For hard-working families like ours, Butlins offered that one little bit of escapism, sun (if you were lucky), sea and three square meals a day, all at a price that wouldn’t break the bank. The whole concept was about good old-fashioned family entertainment and getting the whole family involved. Come rain or shine the Butlins’ philosophy was to create a seaside holiday resort that would keep the family entertained all day long, no matter what the British weather threw at you. Each day was packed full of activities and competitions, from ‘Glamorous Grannies’ competitions to ‘Knobbly Knees’, there was something for everyone, no matter how old or how young. Butlins even offered a babysitting service and I can still remember the tannoy announcing “there’s a baby crying in chalet B78”.